Pushpavanam Nathar Temple, Thiruppoonthruthi, Thanjavur
This Shivasthalam is one of the 7 Sapta Stanam Temples
of Tiruvaiyaru, also known as Pushpavanam. This shrine represents the
first point of interaction between Appar and Sambandar.
The Saptastana temples of Tiruvaiyaru are;
·
Thiruppazhanam
·
Tiruchotruthurai
·
Thiruvedikudi
·
Tirukkandiyur
·
Tiruppanturai
·
Thillaisthanam
·
Tiruvaiyaru
Thiruppoonthruthi is also known as Tiruppanturutti. This
temple is located in between the rivers Kaveri and Kudamurutti and is
considered to be the 11th in the series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom
located south of the river Kaveri. This is the 128th Devaram paadal Petra
Shiva Sthalam and 11th Sthalam on the north of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. Thirunavukarasar
has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.
Iraivan: Sri
Pushbavaneswarar, Sri Aathipuranar, Sri Poyieliyar
Iraivi: Sri Soundra
Nayagi, Sri Azhakalamarthanayagi
Legends
Indra and Kasyapar, Vishnu and Lakshmi are said to have
worshipped Shiva here. Thirunavukarasar is said to have spent a good part of
his life here. He is said to have composed several Patikams here, and is also
said to have borne Sambandar in a palanquin. The Nandi is said to have moved,
to allow Shiva to look at the sight of Appar and Sambandar arriving together at
the shrine. Appar's Patikams Angamaalai was composed here.
According to scriptures, Cauvery was born from the Kamandalam
water (pot carried by rishis) of Sage Agasthya when a crow put it upside down.
It flowed eastward through Sendalai, Andili, Vellambiyur, Arcot, Kandiyur,
Tiruchotruthurai, Tirupazhanam, Tiruvaiyaru, Tiruneithanam and up to Sathanur
and became stagnant as a sea. Places in between as Karuppur, Konerirajapuram, Nadukaveri,
Tiruvalampozhil, and Tirupoonturuthi were submerged.
Indira, king of Devas in the celestial world, worshipped
Lord Aiyarappar, took the Cauvery further east and made places fertile. On this
run, Kandiyur was the first on the way, and then came Poondthuruthi with river
sand. There was banyan tree on the western side at a higher level. This place
was soft as flower (poo in Tamil), the place came to be known as Poondthuruthi.
This is mentioned in Thevaram hymns. Places between rivers are called Thuruthi.
There is also such a Thuruthi called Kuthalam in the eastern side.
It is a popular story that Indira was cursed by Rishi
Gautama to have 1000 ugly signs on his body for his immoral desires. While he
was passing through many Shiva shrines for remedy from the curse, he came here,
worshipped Lord Shiva with flowers and got the total relief. As Indira
worshipped the Lord with fragrant flowers, the place was so named, according to
another story.
That Lord Vishnu and Sri Mahalakshmi worshipped here is
evidenced by the sculptures in the Tower built during the rule of Naickers.
Other stories relating to the name of Poondthuruthi is that Poomagal worshipped
here, Nandideva supplied Flowers (Poo) for Lord’s wedding and that many places
in the Chola region were covered with dense flower gardens.
This was later translated as Pushpavanam (Pushpa – poo,
vanam –dense gardens) in the year 1782 during the rule of Thanjavur Tulasi
Maharaja. Many stories are in rounds regarding the name of the place. It is in
this sacred place Thirunavukarasar bore on his shoulders the palanquin of
Gnanasambandar. Also he established a mutt here.
Temple Speciality
Lord Shiva graces in the temple as a swayambumurthy. Of
the Saptha Sthaanam (seven sacred places) this is the sixth. The place also has
a Mutt established by Saint Thirunavukarasar.
Greatness of Temple
Indira, Lord Vishnu, Mahalakshmi, Sun and Sage Kashyapa
worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple. Indira got cured of his illness by making
a flower round in the temple. Two Vinjayas (a community in the upper world) cursed
to be eagles got back their real personality worshipping in this temple. Places
between rivers are called Thuruthi. This place is in between Cauvery and
Kudamurutti rivers. There is one such place (Kuthalam) near Mayiladuthurai.
Saint Thirunavukarasar did his services called
Uzhavarathondu here. He was holding a tool in his hand called Uzhavaram with
which he was removing the thorny bushes on the way to Shiva temples to make the
path comfortable for the devotees to walk safely. When Saint Gnanasambandar was
hesitant to step on the soil serviced by Thirunavukarasar, Lord Shiva asked his
Nandhi to move away to give darshan to him, according to the Sthalapuranam.
It is here Thirunavukarasar carried the palanquin of Gnanasambandar.
This place is named Sambandar Medu near Tiruvalampozhil and Vellamparambur.
There is also a mutt established by Thirunavukarasar a little far away opposite
the temple. This is a vast place divided as west and east. The temple is in the
western division.
The Temple
This is a vast temple with a huge Nandi, which is said
to have moved aside to make way for Sambandar. As in Tiruvaiyaru, the
Uttara and Dakshina Kailasa temples adorn this shrine. A lofty 100 feet high
Rajagopuram adorns the entrance to this temple which occupies an area of about
2.5 acres. The Ambal shrine faces south while the main sanctum faces east.
Dakshinamurthy is portrayed with a veena, 'Veena Dhara
Dakshinamurthy'. The image above is that of the stucco image of Dakshinamurthy
from the vimanam at the Tirumagaral Shivasthalam in Thondainadu.
Veena Dakshinamurthy, Arthanareeswarar, Bikshadanar,
Sapthamadhas and Vinayaka grace in the shrines in the prakarams. The history of
Nalvar – Gnanasambandar, Thirunavukarasar, Sundarar and Manickavasagar are
painted on the wall. There are also the Somaskanda Mandap and Nataraja Sabha.
Moorthys of Thirunavukarasar, Sundarar with his two wives
Paravai Nachiyar and Sangiliyar, Saptha maathakkal are in the prakaram. All
Nava grahas are facing Suryan. Paintings of Tirunavukkarasar’s biography are
depicted on the walls of outer prakaram. Separate Sannadhi for Durgambigai,
Kashi Viswanathar. Shiva Lingams of associated temples in the outer prakaram
and it is believed that to worship the Shiva Lingams here equivalent to
worshiping Shiva Lingams without going there.
Temple Opening Time
The temple is open from 6.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and 4.30
p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Festivals
Four worship services are offered each day. The sapthasthanam
festival in the month of Chittirai involving a visit by Aiyarappar to each of
the 7 saptastanams is of great importance here.
Sapthasthanam festival, Navarathri in September-October,
Skanda Sashti in October-November, Tirukarthikai in November-December,
Thirukalyanam-Wedding festival,, Tiruvadhirai in December-January, Mahasivarathri
in February-March and Parivettai are the festivals celebrated in the temple.
Prayers
Devotees undertake a clockwise go-round of the hill and
worship the Lord for relief from any curse of their forefathers. Also, they
pray for good wedding results, child boon and good education. They light lamps
in the shrines here. Devotees perform abishek and offer vastras to the Lord on
realizing the boons sought by them.
Singers
It is praised in the Thevaram hymns of Thirunavukarasar,
Arunagirinathar and Sri Ramalinga Adigal.
Contact
Sri Pushbavaneswarar Temple,
Tirupoonturuthi Post, Via Kandiyur – 613 103,
Tiruvaiyaru taluk, Thanjavur district
Phone: +91 - 4365 - 322
290
Mobile: 94865 76529
Connectivity
Mela Thiruppoonthruthi village is 3 km from Kandiyur on
the Thanjavur-Tirukattupalli-Kallanai route. The temple is situated on the
southern bank of Kudamurutti River.
Buses are available from Kandiyur (Kandiyur is 3 Km
from Thiruvaiyaru). It is located 3 Km from Kandiyur on the way to Tirukattupalli.
The place is called as Mela Poondthuruthi.
